DPW seeks to move offices to Town Garage
They are still waiting on balances to be paid and equipment to be picked up, but Department of Public Works (DPW) Director John Whetton told the Board of Selectmen (BOS) he thinks they will collect about $19,000 from the recent auction of obsolete equipment. And, as he said at the September 2, 2026, BOS meeting, he’s hoping that money can go toward construction to move the DPW offices to the Town Garage.
Back in August, Whetton told the BOS that after cutting three supervisor positions, he was proposing moving the DPW administrative office to the highway garage, and adding a highway laborer to the department’s budget next year. Now, with unexpected revenue on the horizon, he’s hoping to use it to build out the infrastructure needed to turn garage space into office space where the public can still safely meet with the DPW.
“I think it’s good to have the Public Works Director right in the garage,” said First Selectman Bill Morrison, but given this was not planned for in advance, the costs would need to be offset.
Whetton noted that he and some of the staff had already started stripping the area to be converted back to the studs “on our own time.”
He also noted that his department will auction more equipment before the year is out. That money could also go toward the next phase of the office conversion.
“I’ve been very impressed with what John’s done through the hardships with the budget,” said Selectman Tim Cromwell. Then he asked if the $19,000, plus the future revenue from another auction, would cover the costs.
Though the full scope of the project has not been determined yet, Whetton said they would do the bare minimum to move the office in Phase 1. A future Phase 2 could be planned for through future budgeting.
What wasn’t noted during the meeting is that moving the DPW office will free up space at Town Hall. The lack of space in Town Hall has come up many times over the years. The Selectmen voted to move the request on to the Board of Finance for final approval.
